Chapter 7

Chapter 7:

The Library's Secret

The strange rumbling noise grows louder as Flood and Ariadne make their way towards the exit. They turn a corner, and suddenly they're faced with a sight that makes their hearts stop. The library is collapsing around them, bookshelves falling to the ground and sending a cloud of dust into the air. "We need to get out of here!" Flood yells over the noise. They grab Ariadne's hand and run towards the exit, dodging the falling bookshelves as they go. But as they near the door, they realize that it's blocked by a pile of rubble.

"We're trapped!" Ariadne cries. "What do we do?" Flood looks around frantically, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, they spot a small window near the ceiling, just big enough for them to crawl through. "There!" they say, pointing to the window. "If we climb up the bookshelves, we can get through there." Ariadne looks at the window, then back at Flood. "It's our only hope," Flood says. "Let's do it!" Ariadne nods, and they start to climb, carefully balancing on the bookshelves as they make their way towardsthe window. As they get closer, the rumbling noise grows even louder, and the bookshelves begin to shake. Flood and Ariadne cling to the shelves, trying to keep their balance. Just as they're about to reach the window, a large bookshelf collapses, sending books flying and knocking them to the ground. Flood hits their head on the floor, and their vision blurs. They struggle to stay conscious, but the room is spinning around them. They can hear Ariadne calling their name, but they can't answer. Then, everything goes black.When Flood comes to, they're lying on the ground in a dark, empty room. They sit up slowly, their head throbbing. "Ariadne?" they call out, their voice hoarse. There's no answer. They stand up, feeling dizzy, and look around the room. It's small and dusty, with no windows or doors. There's only one object in the room: a mirror, propped up against the wall. It's an antique mirror, with a gold frame and ornate carvings. It looks like it's been there for a long time.Something about the mirror seems familiar to Flood, but they can't quite place it. As they approach the mirror, they catch a glimpse of their reflection. But the reflection is not of them. It's of a tall, dark figure, shrouded in shadows. They're holding a scythe, and their eyes are glowing red. The figure's lips curl into a smile, and they speak in a deep, raspy voice. "It's been a long time, Floppy," they say. "I'm so glad you're here." The figure turns and gestures to the mirror, and Flood gasps. In the mirror isAriadne, bound and gagged, being held captive by the dark figure. "What have you done with her?" Flood demands. "Don't worry, she's safe," the figure says. "For now. But that depends on you." They lean closer to the mirror, and their voice drops to a whisper. "I have a proposition for you, Floppy. A deal, if you will." Flood's heart is pounding, and their hands are shaking. They have to save Ariadne, but they have no idea how. "What deal?" they ask, their voice trembling."I'll let your friend go, if you do something for me," the figure says. "What do you want?" Flood asks. "I want you to help me escape from this prison," the figure says. "You're the only one who can do it. And in return, I'll let Ariadne go. What do you say?" Flood's mind is racing. They have no idea how to help the figure escape, but they can't let Ariadne suffer. They take a deep breath, and make their decision. "I'll do it," they say. "What do I need to do?".The figure smiles, revealing long, sharp fangs. "It's simple, really," they say. "All you have to do is break the mirror." Flood looks at the mirror, then back at the figure. "You want me to break the mirror?" they ask. "That's all it takes?" "That's all it takes," the figure says. "Just one little tap." Flood steps closer to the mirror. They can see Ariadne's face, pleading with them. They raise their hand, ready to strike. But then they stop. Something is nagging at them, telling them that this isn't Right Somethin about the figure doesn't feel right. And they can't bring themselves to hurt Ariadne, even if it means saving her. "I can't do it," they say. "You don't want to help your friend?" the figure asks, their tone turning cold. "Of course I do," Flood says. "But not like this. I won't betray them to save them." The figure's smile fades, and their eyes narrow. "How disappointing," they say. "You had such potential." "Maybe," Flood says. "But I'm not going to let you manipulate me into hurting my friend."The figure's face darkens. "Very well," they say. "If that's your choice, then so be it." They turn and walk away, leaving Flood alone in the room. They feel a sense of relief, but also of unease. The figure is still out there, and they still have Ariadne. They have to find a way to save their friend, but they have no idea how. The room is silent, the air heavy with tension. Then, they hear a noise. A faint tapping sound, like someone knocking on the window They turn, and their heart sinks. In the mirror, Ariadne is banging on the glass, screaming at them. "Help me!" she shouts. "Please!" Flood looks at the mirror, horrified. They can't just leave Ariadne like this, trapped and afraid. But they also can't break the mirror, not if it means helping the figure. They're at a loss, unsure what to do. And then, they have an idea. "Can you hear me?" they ask. "Yes!" Ariadne shouts. "I can hear you! Please, get me out of here!" "I'm going to try," Flood says. "But you need to trustme. I need you to stay calm and stay still." Ariadne nods, her face pale and drawn. She presses herself against the glass, her eyes fixed on Flood. "Okay," she says. "I'm ready." "Good," Flood says. "Now, I need you to close your eyes." Ariadne looks confused, but she does as Flood asks. "Now, I want you to picture a door," Flood says. "A big, heavy door, made of solid oak." Ariadne nods, her eyes closed. "You've got it?" Flood asks. "Yes," she says. "I can see the door." "Good," Flood says. "Now, I need you to imagine yourself walking towards the door. You're calm and relaxed, and as you approach the door, you can feel your heartbeat slowing down. Your breath is steady and even." Ariadne nods again, and Flood continues. "You reach out and grasp the doorknob. It's cool to the touch, and you can feel the smooth metal beneath your hand. You take a deep breath, and you turn the knob." "I'm turning it," Ariadne says. "I'm turning it, and the door is opening.""As the door opens, you feel a cool breeze on your face. You step through the doorway, and you find yourself in a field of tall grass. The sun is warm on your skin, and you can hear birds singing in the trees above you." Ariadne's voice is soft and dreamy. "I'm in the field," she says. "I can feel the grass under my feet, and I can smell the flowers." "Excellent," Flood says. "Now, I need you to walk through the field. There's a river in the distance, and you can hear the water flowing. Walk towards the river, and when you reach it, I want you to take a seat on the bank. Can you do that?" "I can," Ariadne says. "I'm walking towards the river. It's beautiful. I can hear the water rushing over the rocks, and the sound is soothing. I'm sitting down now, on the soft grass. I can feel the sun on my face." "Perfect," Flood says. "You're safe here. You're calm and relaxed. And most importantly, you're far away from the mirror. Now, I'm going to count to three, and when I reach three, you're going to open your eyes. Okay?" "Okay," Ariadne says. "One, two, three." Ariadne opens her eyes, and she finds herself back in the mirror, in the room with Flood. But she feels different. She feels calm and peaceful, and the mirror no longer seems scary or threatening. She looks at Flood, and she smiles. "I did it," she says. "You did," Flood says, smiling back. "You're safe now. You're out of the mirror, and you're in control." Ariadne lets out a long, slow breath. "Thank you," shesays. "You're welcome," Flood says. "You did all the work. I was just here to guide you. Now, I need you to do something for me." "Anything," Ariadne says. "I'll do anything." "I need you to close your eyes again," Flood says. "And this time, when I count to three, I want you to imagine the door that you saw before. Can you do that?" "Yes," Ariadne says. "I can do that." "Okay," Flood says. "One, two, three." Ariadne closes her eyes, and she focuseson the door. She sees it in her mind's eye, the heavy oak door with the brass doorknob. And as she approaches it, she feels a sense of peace and serenity wash over her. When she opens the door, she finds herself in a place she's never seen before. It's a beautiful meadow, with flowers blooming in every color imaginable. And in the distance, she can see a sparkling lake, with a small boat bobbing on the water.She walks towards the lake, feeling the warm grass beneath her feet. As she approaches the boat, she notices that there's someone already in it, sitting with their back to her. She can't see who it is, but she feels a sense of familiarity, like she's met this person before. As she gets closer, the figure turns around, and Ariadne is surprised to see that it's her. It's her, but not as she is now. This is her as a child, maybe six or seven years old. The little girl looks up at her with a smile.